Urban Meyer Compares New Ohio State QB Will Howard to Buckeyes Great JT Barrett

The ex-Ohio State coach sees flashes of one of his former QBs in the new Buckeyes signal-caller.

Urban Meyer sees something in Will Howard. 

Even though their season is over, the Ohio State Buckeyes continue to make headlines. After 2023 starter Kyle McCord entered the transfer portal back in December, the Buckeyes were in the market for a new quarterback. 

Choosing from a portal filled with big names, the Buckeyes landed former Kansas State signal-caller Will Howard on Thursday, giving fans plenty to buzz about. 

On Saturday, former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer joined the conversation about the team’s newest QB, comparing Howard to ex-Buckeyes great JT Barrett during the podcast Urban's Take With Tim May on Saturday. 

“Yeah I love Will Howard. I’ve watched him closely. The No. 1 thing is he’s a winner and he’s tough. And those are two things you want. I think of winner, tough, I think of—guys like JT Barrett come to mind. Is he going to be the No. 1 pick, No. 2 pick? Probably not, in the NFL draft, but he wins and he’s tough,” said Meyer. 

Meyer, the former Buckeyes coach, compared Howard, the program’s new transfer quarterback, to one of his star signal callers :: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network

That’s certainly high praise coming from Meyer, who coached Barrett for the entirety of his Buckeyes career. He helped the program reach—and ultimately win, despite his season-ending injury—the 2014 national title while compiling some impressive statistics along the way in four seasons. 

Howard, meanwhile, comes to Columbus after helping the Wildcats win the 2022 Big 12 title, then producing a rock-solid statistical season in 2023. 

Meyer doesn't see Howard being flashy, but he could see him being a winner, much like Barrett was for the Buckeyes. 

Ohio State fans would certainly take that from Howard.